Does the writer give us more than Robert Shelton’s personal history?

Yes, The author tells the story of the factory and the changes it has faced in the past and during the time the article was written. Robert’s personal story works as a lens through which the reader learns about the history of the factory and its significance to the sugar trade, New York, and williamsburg Brooklyn.

Describe the narrative of this profile, the arc of the story.

The narrative is a tribute to Robert Shelton’s life, which he dedicated to working incredible long hours in extreme temperatures. Through this narrative, we learn about the site and its historical importance. The arc of the story is Robert’s life as a worker at the historical site and his trajectory from worker to retiree, and from retiree  to volunteer.

What do you think of the lead?

The author relies heavily on Robert’s emotions about the factory and describes a site that is no longer there in detail, indicating this is a flash back to the past. I think he does a good job of being descriptive and setting a nostalgic tone for the story.

Where is the nut graf? What about the author’s point-of-view?

The nut graf is in the third paragraph where the author goes into detail about the borough and the historical importance of the Domino complex.  The author’s point of view is that this symbolic place in the neighborhood which holds the significance of freedom and paid labor in a job that started with the slaves should not be forgotten.

Do look at online images of Kara Walker’s sculptural installation, “A Subtlety” before you answer these questions. Category: Robert Shelton for your blog post.